Part of Salzburg’s UNESCO World Heritage–listed historic center, Mirabell Palace (Schloss Mirabell) enjoys a rich royal history, as well as a place in movie legend: it was one of the filming sites for The Sound of Music. Built by Prince Archbishop Wolf Dietrich in 1606, the palace is most famous for its magnificent baroque gardens.

The Basics

Both Salzburg city tours and The Sound of Music tours often include a stop at Mirabell Palace and Gardens, where visitors can explore the lavish palace interiors, stroll the landscaped gardens, and admire the grand marble Donnerstiege stairway. The palace’s ornate Marble Hall hosts regular concerts of music by Salzburg’s favorite son, Mozart.

Things to Know Before You Go

Admission to the palace and gardens is free.

The Dwarf Garden (Zwergelgarten) is a must-see for families with kids.

The palace and its gardens are wheelchair accessible.

How to Get There

Mirabell Palace is located on the northern bank of the River Salzach in central Salzburg. The easiest way to reach the palace is on foot—it’s about a 10-minute walk from the Old Town, across the State Bridge (Staatsbrücke).

When to Get There

The palace and gardens are open daily year-round, but the gardens are at their most impressive during spring and summer, when the flowers are in full bloom. During peak summer months, an early morning visit is best to avoid the crowds. In the winter, the Dwarf Garden and Hedge Theater are closed.

Exploring the Mirabell Gardens

Originally designed by Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach in the 17th century, the Mirabell Garden is among the most impressive baroque gardens in Europe. The grand centerpiece is the Pegasus Fountain, around which the Von Trapp children danced during their rendition of “Do-Re-Mi” in The Sound of Music. Other highlights include the Rose Garden, the Grand Fountain, the Hedge Theater, and the unique Dwarf Garden filled with knee-high marble garden gnomes.

Explore picturesque Salzburg and the idyllic Austrian Lake District on this private full-day tour from Vienna. Visit film locations from iconic musical ‘The Sound of Music’; see Mozart's birthplace and spot landmarks like the Mirabell Palace, St Peter’s Abbey and the Archbishop’s Palace. Then, enjoy free time to explore the UNESCO-listed Old Town, visit the Hohensalzburg fortress and Mozart museum, or hit the shops, before heading back to Vienna.

Relive your favorite scenes from the classic musical on The Original Sound of Music Tour in Salzburg. This comprehensive, 4-hour adventure takes you to the film’s iconic sites around the city while providing historical background on Salzburg’s top attractions and architectural jewels. Visit the stunning Lake District and see the gazebo where ‘Sixteen Going on Seventeen’ was shot before concluding your tour back at your original departure point.

Discover the UNESCO-listed city of Salzburg on this 2-hour private tour. Enjoy a comprehensive overview of the city’s history, architecture and culture as you pass top sites including Mozart’s House, Salzburg Cathedral and Mirabell Palace. Soak up the stunning Baroque buildings and see iconic film locations from ‘The Sound of Music.’ Numbers are limited to eight people on this private tour to keep the experience as intimate as possible.

Experience two top-selling tours at a discounted price with this Salzburg Super Saver. Begin your day traveling through the Bavarian Mountains and touring the 450-year-old salt mines. Then visit some of the memorable locations where ‘The Sound of Music’ was filmed, while soaking up the stunning scenery of the Salzkammergut. Your guide will also provide historical backdrop on the architectural landmarks of Salzburg.

Soak up the gorgeous Salzburg scenery with a 2- or 3-night stay in Schloss Leopoldskron (Leopoldskron Castle), made famous in ‘The Sound of Music.’ Revisit your favorite scenes from the film with an accompanying ‘The Sound of Music’ tour and explore the city’s top attractions, including Nonnberg Abbey, Mondsee Cathedral and the Mirabell Gardens. Enjoy a complimentary Mirabell Chocolate and a free bike rental to continue exploring the city on your own.

Relive your favorite scenes with the Von Trapp family on this 4-hour original 'Sound of Music' tour from Salzburg. Led by a private guide, pass iconic film locations aboard your coach, including Nonnberg Abbey, Schloss Leopoldskron and the Mirabell Gardens, where Maria and the children famously sang 'Do-Re-Mi.' Then, visit the wedding church at Mondsee and soak up the incredible landscape of the Salzkammergut region. To keep the fun going, upgrade your ticket to include an apple strudel cooking class.

Explore three historic cities with a private guide on a full-day tour of Melk, Hallstatt and Salzburg from Vienna. Enjoy the flexibility to tailor the day to your interests as you take in West Austria’s scenic Lake District. Visit a Benedictine Abbey and picturesque villages, and learn about the area’s food traditions and ancient history. Trace Austria’s cultural heritage through the historic streets of Salzburg: tour the birthplace of Wolfgang Mozart, visit an 11th-century hilltop fortress and browse a renowned shopping lane before returning to Vienna.

Enjoy a comprehensive, 5-day tour of Austria from Vienna to Salzburg. Spend four nights in 3- or 4-star hotels and explore the country’s top attractions and UNESCO-listed sites. See Mozart's birthplace and the Mirabell Gardens in Salzburg, and wander the grounds of Vienna’s spectacular Schonbrunn Palace. Learn the rich history of each city from your guide as you soak up a stunning overview of Austrian culture and landscape. Your trip will conclude with round-trip transportation back to Vienna.

Explore Salzburg and save money on top sights with a guided tour of the city plus the 24-hour Salzburg Card. With use of Salzburg’s public transit, getting around the city’s a breeze, and the card includes admission to more than 30 attractions and museums. See the remarkable Hellbrunn Palace, the landmarks in the UNESCO-listed historic center, and Mozart’s former home, enjoying bonus discounts at a wide range of destinations along the way.

Salzburg, the birthplace of Mozart and filming location of ‘The Sound of Music’, is a visual feast of Alpine beauty. Enhance your experience of Salzburg’s natural landscapes on this private 12-hour tour from Vienna, which includes stops at Lake Attersee and St. Gilgen. Admire Austria’s lake district; stroll around the gloriously Baroque village of St. Gilgen; and take a guided tour of Salzburg’s Old Town, home to St. Peter’s Abbey and the Mozart Residence. Hotel pickup and drop-off in Vienna are included.

Experience UNESCO-listed Salzburg the way you wish on a customizable private 6-hour tour. Travel between the sites by private minivan with a personal guide and separate driver, and visit the places that interest you most. Perhaps stroll the Old Town to see Mozart’s House and the Getreidegasse; explore Salzburg Cathedral and the Festival District; see the Hellbrunn Palace; and discover other sights. Price is per vehicle with pickup and drop-off at any central location included.

Follow in the footsteps of Maria and the von Trapp family with a 4-hour private tour of Salzburg’s Sound of Music landmarks. Sing along to the movie soundtrack as you visit film locations: stroll a grassy garden where the actors danced to ‘Do-Re-Mi,’ see the outside of the castle where the movie family lived, then peer inside the famous glass gazebo. Hear the real-life story of the von Trapps, and experience a dramatic part of Austrian history through a beloved film. No transportation between Vienna and Salzburg is included.

After pickup from your hotel, set off with your private guide to see the best and lesser-known attractions of Salzburg. A special lunch is included with a behind the scenes look at preparation. Stretch your legs as you tour the city center and then do some independent exploring. Then, relax as your private driver transports you past the city’s sights, including the Palace of Leopoldskron, and into the Lake district.

Travel to Salzburg, forever associated with Mozart and ‘The Sound of Music,’ on this rail day trip from Munich. Relax on a scenic 2-hour train journey to this historical Austrian city, and enjoy a guided walking tour of its UNESCO-listed Old Town, seeing the Mirabell Gardens, St. Peter’s Church, Mozart’s Birthplace, and more. Lastly, enjoy free time to stroll, shop, and sightsee for yourself, before your return train ride. Rail tickets and walking tour included.

Devote a day to ‘The Sound of Music’ on this private, customizable 9-hour tour from Salzburg. Traveling by private minivan, trace the footsteps of Maria and the Von Trapps to one location after another, stopping for lunch (own expense) on route. Tour the ‘Do Re Mi’ scenes in Salzburg, see the famous gazebo, Mondsee, and ‘The Hills are Alive’ meadow, and absorb the Alpine scenery. Price is per vehicle, with hotel pickup and drop-off included.

Discover the highlights of historic Salzburg on a 1-hour city tour by bus of the city that includes coffee and cake at a local restaurant after the tour. Join a guide and small group on a specially-designed route that offers the perfect introduction to Salzburg. This 1-hour city tour of Salzburg has departures throughout the day.

See the best of Vienna and Salzburg with this Super Saver, combining two popular Vienna tours at a discounted price. Spend your first day on a trip to Salzburg to explore the UNESCO-listed Old Town, walk among the gardens at Mirabell Palace, spot Mozart’s birthplace and more. Follow up Day Two with a hop-on hop-off bus tour through Vienna, passing all of the city’s top attractions. See the Vienna State Opera, Heroes' Square and the iconic Ferris wheel at the Prater with your 48-hour ticket.

Spend a full day exploring Salzburg with a guide on this tour departing from Munich. With all transportation provided via bus, train, and metro, there's no need to rent a car. You'll get a comprehensive tour of the Austrian city with your guide providing commentary on Salzburg's history, culture, and architecture.

Experience three of Austria’s UNESCO-listed highlights — Salzburg, the Wachau Valley and the Salzerkammergut — in one day on a trip from Vienna. Admire the wine country of Wachau and Salzkammergut’s mountains and lakes before arriving in Salzburg, Mozart’s birthplace and the setting for ‘The Sound of Music.’ Tour Salzburg's must-sees, including Mozart's House and the Mirabell Gardens, and then stroll and relax independently. Hotel pickup and drop-off included.

Explore in a group of no more than 8 people the beautiful city of Salzburg on this day trip departing from Vienna. Led by an expert guide, relive your favorite scenes from ‘The Sound of Music’ as you pass iconic locations featured in the film. Discover the best of the lake region of Salzkammergut on a back-roads tour stopping at gorgeous Lake Attersee and St. Gilgen village. See Salzburg’s key sights, including Mirabell Palace and Mozart’s Birthplace on a walking tour of the Old Town. Learn about the city’s rich history from your guide and spend the afternoon relaxing or exploring independently. Numbers are limited to eight on this small-group,100% carbon neutral tour.

See the best of Salzburg with this combo, combining two top-selling tours at a discounted price. Begin your sightseeing with a 2-hour historical walking tour of the city’s Old Town. Then take the Original Sound of Music Tour in the afternoon and relive your favorite scenes from the classic film, shot around Salzburg. See top attractions including the Mirabell Gardens, the Salzburg Cathedral and more as you explore this vibrant Austrian city with an expert guide.

Combine a visit to Hitler's mountain retreat with stops at filming locations from the Sound of Music on this full-day private tour from Salzburg. Enjoy a flexible itinerary and personalized attention on this private tour with a dedicated guide. Midday, stop for lunch at a restaurant of your choice (own expense). Round-trip transportation from Salzburg hotels included.

Explore the historic city of Salzburg on a 2-hour walking tour. Led by an expert guide, learn the stories behind the city's architectural gems and famous residents, such as the Von Trapp family and Mozart. Pass St Peter’s Monastery, Mozart House and the Mirabell Gardens, when scenes from ‘The Sound of Music’ were filmed. You’ll also have the chance to explore the Baroque Old Town, dotted with stunning cathedrals and churches.